About the Library:

Established in 1846 by civic leaders and philanthropists, the Mercantile exists today as a vibrant community and cultural asset. It is the oldest library west of the Mississippi and the grandparent of St. Louis cultural institutions.

The task of the Mercantile Library as a research library is to make its collections, which have come to concentrate on Western Expansion and the history, development, and growth of the St. Louis region and of the American rail and river transportation experiences, available to the widest number of local and national users.

View the latest edition of the St. Louis Mercantile Library Newsletter here!

Library Tours:

Get more out of your visit to the Mercantile Library visit with a free, docent-led tour of the Library on Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at 2pm. No reservations are necessary for our public tours. Free docent-led group tours can also be arranged for other times. Self-guided tours are welcome, but please contact us ahead to avoid any conflict with scheduled tours. Please call 314-516-7281 or email for details.